Portable footstool and lounge chair combination

ABSTRACT

A portable footstool and lounge chair combination is formed from a plurality of cushions of non-rigid material. Certain of the cushions are hinged to each other so that when folded up, in which state its overall shape is that of a compact, rectangular prism, it provides a footstool or hassock. When unfolded the combination of cushions provides an extensive lounge having a seat, a pair of arm rests, a back rest, a head rest, and an elevated leg rest.

United States Patent 1191 Lyons 1 May 29, 1973 [s41 PORTABLE FOOTSTOOLAND 2,896,695 1/1959 Ashworth ..297/l18 L N E CHAIR COMBINATION3,001,822 9/1961 Pagliaro ....297 440 3,469,882 9/1969 Larsen....297/ll8 Inventor: Wllllam Lyons, 618 Melmse 3,555,581 1 1971 Friant..5/352 Drive, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613 3,672,720 6/1972 Wilson ..5 357[22] Flled: I 3 1972 Primary Examiner- -Francis K. Zugel [21] Appl. No.:222,804 Attorney-Haven E. Simmons and James C.

US. Cl. ..297/1l8, 5/357, 297/423 ..A47c 13/00 Field of Search ..5/352,345, 357;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 433,905 8/1890 Muller..5/357 2,589,579 3/1952 Slayen 1 ..5/357 2,631,699 3/1953 Schultz..297/l7 Nemmers [57] ABSTRACT A portable footstool and lounge chaircombination is formed from a plurality of cushions of non-rigidmaterial. Certain of the cushions are hinged to each other so that whenfolded up, in which state its overall shape is that of a compact,rectangular prism, it provides a footstool or hassock. When unfolded thecombination of cushions provides an extensive lounge having a seat, apair of arm rests, a back rest, a head rest, and an elevated leg rest.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Patented May 29, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet lPatented May 29, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONChairs and lounges, especially those designed for eye-level viewing oftelevision, should be light in weight and readily movable from place toplace since they must often be moved aside or stored. At the same time,

they should be extensive enough to provide adequate comfort for theviewer, who is usually rather stretched out horizontally on them, andyet not occupy an excessive or inconvenient amount of space when not inuse. These characteristics havenot, so far as is known, been very wellprovided by chairs, lounges and the like currently used for thispurpose. Rather the latter tend to be somewhat heavy and complex, arenot readily portable, and when not in use occupy an unnecessary orinconvenient amount of space. Indeed, most of them when not in use as achair or lounge are otherwise relatively useless. Hence the primaryobject of the present invention is a chair or lounge, especially foreye-level television viewing, which provides certain advantages notenjoyed by those currently in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Each of the cushions making up the portablelounge chair and footstool of the present invention is formed wholly ofa foamed plastic or rubber core simply covered with suitable fabric. Nosteel, wood or other rigid material is employed or needed whichconsequently reduces both weight and cost since only sewing is neededfor assembly. The several cushions of the unit are first separately madeup in appropriate shapes, hereafter described in more detail, andselected ones are then joined by additional fabric and sewing so as toform hinged joints therebetween. The latter are located in such a manneras to permit the whole unit to be readily unfolded out into a completelounge chair and just as readily to be refolded into a compact, easilymovable assembly which is useful as a footstool, all as shown in thedrawings and described in the more detailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS but illustrating a slightly modifiedversion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIGS. 1A 1D and 2A28, the portable footstool and lounge chair combination of the presentinvention consists of a total of nine individual cushions A, B, C, D, E,F, G, Hand]. Each of these is made up from a suitable plastic foam orfoam rubber'block and is encased in typical fashion in a fabric cover 11sewn thereabout and provided with beaded edges 12, all as indicated inFIGS. 1A 1D. Since there are numerous ways in which such cushions can beso made and since the manner of their covering forms no part of thepresent invention, this aspect of their construction is not further setforth, as it will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The cushions A and B are identical in size, each being of rectangularprismatic shape, and are stacked horizontally one on top of the other asindicated in FIGS. 18 1D. The adjacent beaded edges 12 along the frontfaces of cushions A and B are sewn to each other, or otherwise joined bysuitable strips of the cover fabric 11, to form hinges 13 so that thecushion A can be pivoted about the hinges 13, as indicated by the arrowA in FIG. 1C, to the position shown in FIG. 2A. The cushions C and D arealso identical in size and of rectangular prismatic shape, beingdisposed upright along and flush with the respective side faces ofcushion B, their rear faces also being flush with the rear faces ofcushions A and B. Between the opposed inner faces of the cushions C andD are located two cushions E and F which together also form arectangular prism, the rear face of cushion E being flush with the rearfaces of cushions A and B and the top face of cushion B being flush withthe top faces of cushions C and D. The opposed inner faces of thecushions C and D abut the respective side faces of the cushions E and F,while the front face of the cushion F is spaced rearwardly of the frontfaces of the cushions C and D. The cushions E and F are separated in arearwardly inclined plane E F normal to the side faces of cushions C andD, which plane intersects the top and bottom faces of cushions E andFmidway between their front and rear faces. The lower face'of cushion Eis suitably attached to the upper face of cushion B, or if desired,cushions B and E can be made integrally as one cushion. The upper sideedges of cushion E are hinged at 14 in the foregoing manner to the topinner side edges of cushions C and D, and the adjacent edges of cushionsE and F at their top faces are also similarly hinged at 15 so thatcushion F can be pivoted about'the hinges 15, as

indicated by the arrow F in FIG. 1C, to the position shown in FIGS. 2Aand 2B.

The cushions G and H also form a rectangular prism disposed on top ofcushion B at its forward end. The

'frontand side faces of cushions G and H are flush with the front andside faces of cushions A and B and the top face of cushion G is flushwith the top faces of the cushions C, D, E and F, while the rear facesof cushions G and H abut the front'faces of cushions C and D, all asshown in FIGS. 1A, 1C and 1D. The cushions G and H are also separated ina rearwardly inclined plane G' H normal to the side faces of cushions Aand B, which plane intersects the lower front edge of cushions G and Hat the upper front edge of cushion B and the rear faces of cushions Gand H between their top and bottom faces, whereby cushion G lies abovecushion H. The lower edge of the front face of cushion G is also hingedin'the foregoing manner at 16 .to the upper front edge of the cushion Bso that cushion G can pivot, as indicated by the arrow G in FIG. 1C, tothe position shown in FIG. 2A. Finally, the cushion I, also ofrectangular prismatic shape, is-disposed in the space between theopposed inner faces of cushions C and D at their forward ends and thefront and rear faces respectively of cushion F and cushions G and H, asshown in FIGS. 1A and 1C. A strip of fabric 17 is hinged at one end at18lto the lower edge of the front face of cushion l and at the other endat 19 to the lower edge of the front face of cushion F (see FIG. 2A) sothat it can be flopped over onto the inclined face of cushion F when thelatter is in the position shown in FIG. 2A.

Accordingly, as shown in its fully folded position in FIGS. 1A 1D, thecombination is a compact assembly of overall, rectangular prismaticshape which is readily portable and useful as a footstool when turnedupside down so that cushion A is uppermost. When unfolded for use as achair or lounge, the cushion A is swung about its hinges l3 and thecushion G about its hinges 16 to the positions shown in FIG. 2A,whereupon the cushion H can then be removed and placed as indicated inthat Figure. Finally, the cushion F is swung about its hinges and thecushion I flopped over onto the inclined face of cushion F, all as shownin FIG. 2A. Hence, the cushions A and B form an elongated base or seat,the cushions C and D providing arm rests and the cushions E and F aninclined back rest with the cushion I acting as a neck rest and thecushions G and F as an elevated leg rest. In the alternate embodimentshown in FIG. 3 the cushion I is simply omitted and the front face ofcushion F therefore abuts the rear faces of cushions G and H.

Though the invention has been described in terms of two particularembodiments, being the best modes known of carrying out the invention,it is not limited to those embodiments alone. Instead, the followingclaims are to be read as encompassing all modifications and adaptationsof the invention falling within its spirit and scope.

I claim:

1. A portable and foldable footstool and lounge chair which in its fullyfolded state comprises a combination of discreet cushions, saidcombination having an overall rectangular prismatic shape defined byfront, bottom, rear, top and opposite side faces, said cushionsincluding first and second cushions each of rectangular prismatic shapehorizontally disposed in stacked faceto-face relation with the secondcushion disposed above the first, the corresponding vertical faces ofthe two cushions defining respective portions of said overall front,opposite side and rear faces, the lower face of the first cushionforming said overall bottom face, and the immediately adjacentconcurrent edges of the two cushions at said overall front face beinghinged to each other effective to permit the second cushion to bepivoted thereabout to an unfolded position in which said front verticalfaces thereof are disposed in abutting face-to-face relation; spacedthird and fourth cushions each of rectangular prismatic shape disposedupright from the second cushion along the respective ones of saidoverall side faces, the third and fourth cushions having top facesforming portions of said overall top face, a pair of rear faces formingadditional portions of said overall rear face, a pair of outer sidefaces forming additional portions of said overall side faces, a pair ofopposed inner faces in spaced relation to each other and a pair of frontfaces disposed rearwardly of said overall front face; fifth and sixthcushions together forming a rectangular prism disposed on the top of thesecond cushion between the third and fourth cushions and having topfaces forming a further portion of said overall top face and side facesabutting respective ones of said opposed inner faces of the third andfourth cushions, the fifth and sixth cushions being separated in a planenonnal to said overall side faces and through the bottom and top facesof the fifth and sixth cushions intermediate the front and rear facesthereof, said plane also, inclining upwardly and rearwardly toward saidoverall rear face, the fifth cushion being secured to the top face'ofthe second cushion and having a rear face forming the remainder of saidoverall rear face, the third and fourth cushions being attached to thefifth cushion at least at the two respective pairs of the immediatelyadjacent concurrent edges of the third and fourth cushions and the fifthcushion at said overall top face, the immediately adjacent concurrentedges of the fifth and sixth cushions at said overall top face beinghinged to each other efi'ective so that the sixth cushion can pivotthereabout to a position in which the top faces of the fifth and sixthcushions are in abutting faceto-face relation; and seventh and eighthcushions together forming a rectangular prism disposed on the top of thesecond cushion forward of the third and fourth cushions and havingrespective side faces forming the remainder of said overall side faces,the rear faces of the seventh and eighth cushions abutting the frontfaces of the third and fourth cushions, the seventh cushion having afront face forming the remainder of said overall front face and a topface forming a further portion of said overall top face, the seventh andeighth cushions being separated in a plane normal to said overall sidefaces, said plane also inclining upwardly and rearwardly from the loweredge of the front face of the seventh cushion and through the rear facesof the seventh and eighth cushions intermediate bottom and top facesthereof, whereby the seventh cushion is disposed above the eighthcushion, the seventh cushion being hinged to the second cushion alongthe immediately adjacent concurrent edges thereof at said overall frontface effective so that the seventh cushion can be pivoted thereabout toa position in which the front face of the seventh cushion and the bottomface of the first cushion are in abutting face-to-face relation when thefirst cushion has been pivoted relative to the second cushion asaforesaid.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which the second and fifth cushions areintegrally formed as a single cushion.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said attachment of the third andfourth cushions to the fifth cushion comprises a hinged connection.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the front faces of said third,fourth and sixth cushions are coplanar and abut the rear faces of theseventh and eighth cushions.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the front face of the sixthcushion is disposed rearwardly of the front faces of the third andfourth cushions in spaced relation to the rear faces of the seventh andeighth cushions, and including a ninth cushion of rectangular prismaticshape disposed therebetween, the ninth cushion having front and rearfaces abutting respectively the rear faces of the seventh and eighthcushions and the front face of the sixth cushion and side faces abuttingsaid opposed inner faces of the third and fourth cushions.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein the lower edge of the front faceof the ninth cushion is attached to a lower portion of the sixth cushionso that after the sixth cushion has been pivoted relative to the fifthcushion as aforesaid, the ninth cushion can then be pivoted relative tothe sixth cushion to a position in which the front face of the ninthcushion lies in abutting face-toface relation upon the face of the sixthcushion formed by said plane separating the fifth and sixth cushions.

1. A portable and foldable footstool and lounge chair which in its fullyfolded state comprises a combination of discreet cushions, saidcombination having an overall rectangular prismatic shape defined byfront, bottom, rear, top and opposite side faces, said cushionsincluding first and second cushions each of rectangular prismatic shapehorizontally disposed in stacked face-to-face relation with the secondcushion disposed above the first, the corresponding vertical faces ofthe two cushions defining respective portions of said overall front,opposite side and rear faces, the lower face of the first cushionforming said overall bottom face, and the immediately adjacentconcurrent edges of the two cushions at said overall front face beinghinged to each other effective to permit the second cushion to bepivoted thereabout to an unfolded position in which said front verticalfaces thereof are disposed in abutting face-toface relation; spacedthird and fourth cushions each of rectangular prismatic shape disposedupright from the second cushion along the respective ones of saidoverall side faces, the third and fourth cushions having top facesforming portions of said overall top face, a pair of rear faces formingadditional portions of said overall rear face, a pair of outer sidefaces forming additional portions of said overall side faces, a pair ofopposed inner faces in spaced relation to each other and a pair of frontfaces disposed rearwardly of said overall front face; fifth and sixthcushions together forming a rectangular prism disposed on the top of thesecond cushion between the third and fourth cushions and having topfaces forming a further portion of said overall top face and side facesabutting respective ones of said opposed inner faces of the third andfourth cushions, the fifth and sixth cushions being separated in a planenormal to said overall side faces and through the bottom and top facesof the fifth and sixth cushions intermediate the front and rear facesthereof, said plane also inclining upwardly and rearwardly toward saidoverall rear face, the fifth cushion being secured to the top face ofthe second cushion and having a rear face forming the remainder of saidoverall rear face, the third and fourth cushions being attached to thefifth cushion at least at the two respective pairs of the immediatelyadjacent concurrent edges of the thirD and fourth cushions and the fifthcushion at said overall top face, the immediately adjacent concurrentedges of the fifth and sixth cushions at said overall top face beinghinged to each other effective so that the sixth cushion can pivotthereabout to a position in which the top faces of the fifth and sixthcushions are in abutting face-to-face relation; and seventh and eighthcushions together forming a rectangular prism disposed on the top of thesecond cushion forward of the third and fourth cushions and havingrespective side faces forming the remainder of said overall side faces,the rear faces of the seventh and eighth cushions abutting the frontfaces of the third and fourth cushions, the seventh cushion having afront face forming the remainder of said overall front face and a topface forming a further portion of said overall top face, the seventh andeighth cushions being separated in a plane normal to said overall sidefaces, said plane also inclining upwardly and rearwardly from the loweredge of the front face of the seventh cushion and through the rear facesof the seventh and eighth cushions intermediate bottom and top facesthereof, whereby the seventh cushion is disposed above the eighthcushion, the seventh cushion being hinged to the second cushion alongthe immediately adjacent concurrent edges thereof at said overall frontface effective so that the seventh cushion can be pivoted thereabout toa position in which the front face of the seventh cushion and the bottomface of the first cushion are in abutting face-to-face relation when thefirst cushion has been pivoted relative to the second cushion asaforesaid.
 2. The combination of claim 1 in which the second and fifthcushions are integrally formed as a single cushion.
 3. The combinationof claim 2 wherein said attachment of the third and fourth cushions tothe fifth cushion comprises a hinged connection.
 4. The combination ofclaim 1 wherein the front faces of said third, fourth and sixth cushionsare coplanar and abut the rear faces of the seventh and eighth cushions.5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the front face of the sixthcushion is disposed rearwardly of the front faces of the third andfourth cushions in spaced relation to the rear faces of the seventh andeighth cushions, and including a ninth cushion of rectangular prismaticshape disposed therebetween, the ninth cushion having front and rearfaces abutting respectively the rear faces of the seventh and eighthcushions and the front face of the sixth cushion and side faces abuttingsaid opposed inner faces of the third and fourth cushions.
 6. Thecombination of claim 5 wherein the lower edge of the front face of theninth cushion is attached to a lower portion of the sixth cushion sothat after the sixth cushion has been pivoted relative to the fifthcushion as aforesaid, the ninth cushion can then be pivoted relative tothe sixth cushion to a position in which the front face of the ninthcushion lies in abutting face-to-face relation upon the face of thesixth cushion formed by said plane separating the fifth and sixthcushions.